Ke. Dematteo et Hj. Harlow, THERMOREGULATORY RESPONSES OF THE NORTH-AMERICAN PORCUPINE (ERETHIZON-DORSATUM BRUNERI) TO DECREASING AMBIENT-TEMPERATURE AND INCREASING WIND-SPEED, Comparative biochemistry and physiology. B. Comparative biochemistry, 116(3), 1997, pp. 339-346
Average resting metabolic rate of five adult male porcupines (Erethizo
n dorsatum bruneri) 0.23 ml O-2/g . h +/- 0.007 SEM, between 10 degree
s C (T-k) and 25 degrees C, which is 70% of the value predicted by bod
y mass. A T-b of 37.1 degrees C +/- 0.1 SEM was maintained between -10
degrees C and 25 degrees C, Calculated thermal conductance (between 6
degrees C and - 10 degrees C) was 87% of the predicted value. There w
as no significant change in mean metabolic rate as a function of wind
(up 4.3 m/s) at ambient temperatures (1 degrees C and -5 degrees C) be
low their T-k. Under these same ambient conditions, with and without w
ind, the skin surface and subcutaneous areas of the porcupine's rosett
e region exhibited marked temperature lability. (C) 1997 Elsevier Scie
nce Inc.